Turn The Corner: New Public Mural Appears in Grimsby

Thank you to everyone involved in the North Lincolnshire Drug and Alcohol Strategy Launch at The Bath Halls, Scunthorpe. It was genuinely uplifting to be in a room full of people who care about change. A day full of recovery, hope, honesty and a shared commitment to working differently as a system. As part of the day, we shared this film publicly for the first time, and the response in the room meant a lot to everyone involved. Now that the film has been shown for the first time, we can finally share it more widely. This film means a huge amount to us. This isn’t just a campaign video. It’s lived experience on screen. Every main actor in this film has been through addiction and is now in recovery. The story you’re watching is rooted in real lives, real struggle, real change, and real hope. The film follows three people finding a way out of addiction and into recovery, and it challenges a lot of the assumptions people hold about who addiction affects. The truth is, it reaches far wider than most of us realise. One of the biggest barriers we see isn’t the absence of support, it’s fear. Fear of being judged. Fear of being seen. Fear of speaking up. And that silence keeps people stuck. Recovery Town exists to lower that barrier. Our website www.recoverytown.co.uk is intentionally simple. It shows what support is available in the area and what meetings are on which day. We’re also placing QR codes across the town so that access to help is as simple and immediate as possible, in the moments it’s most needed. Huge thanks to Tommy Turgoose for giving his time to record the voiceover and for the respect he showed to the people whose stories are reflected in this film and of course to Archie Fox who created this with us, a brilliant filmmaker and someone we genuinely love working with. If you’re watching this and it resonates with you, or with someone you care about, please know that support exists and recovery is real. If this film makes you feel something, please share it. You never know who might need to see it today.

From the 1st of January until the 30th June 2026 we're exhibiting a small selection of artwork and craft items upstairs in the Great Escape, in our newly refurbished 'The White Room'. The Sketch Priority Urban Sticker Art Exhibition is collated by local street artist 'Stake' and shows off an impressive collection of hand-drawn stickers sent in by the worldwide sticker art community. The Sticker Art also shares the space with 'New Beginnings' a showcase of art and crafts from the recent 'Making a Comeback' workshops organised by Kathleen Smith on behalf of Creative Start and funded by the Arts Council and CreateNEL. The regular commissioned schedule of FREE weekly workshops included monthly craft kit sessions and workshops for members of recovery and the wider local community. The exhibition has FREE admission and will be open from 10am until 3pm Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until the 30th June. Upstairs in the Great Escape, the space also has a permanent gallery of art by local artist Terry Clarke, that is free to look around... Please note; the White Room is located upstairs at the Great Escape so is not fully accessible for disabled visitors. The Blackgull Community Venue downstairs, however has fully accessible toilets and lovely coffees and teas available :)

We’re proud to share some amazing news! Creative Start has won the inaugural 2025 Investors in People Award for Excellence in Building Purpose Driven Impact. This award recognises organisations that put purpose before profit, something that’s always been at the heart of what we do. A huge thank you to Sarah Lumley, Public Health Programme Manager at @nelcouncil , for nominating us and joining us in London for the event. Your belief in our work and continued support means a lot. We’re proud to represent North East Lincolnshire, showing that recovery, creativity and community can lead the way in changing lives and challenging stigma. Here’s to everyone who believes in chances, hope, and purpose.

What an incredible night! We are genuinely delighted and immensely proud to announce that we have won the Community Group award at the @bbchumberside Make a Difference Awards. While we don't do this work for accolades, receiving this recognition is deeply meaningful. For many in the recovery community, the journey is a matter of life and death, and our focus will always remain on providing vital support. To be celebrated amongst a room full of inspiring people doing such fantastic work across our region is a true honour. This award is a testament to the amazing support we receive from so many people. It reinforces our commitment to making it easier for everyone to talk about addiction and recovery without fear of stigma or shame, ensuring that when support is needed, guidance and a space for meaningful change are readily available. Recognition like this shows that the landscape is changing. Important conversations are happening, and minds are opening. Led by our incredible and committed community, we will continue to drive this vital work forward.